Question 1

Where does this CPA firm data come from?

Accepted Answer

The data is sourced from NASBA's Accountancy Licensee Database (ALD), which aggregates official licensing records published by US state boards of accountancy. It covers 54,000+ licensed CPA firms across 46 jurisdictions.

Question 2

A firm I know isn't showing up. Does that mean it's unlicensed?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Some state boards do not publish firm data to NASBA's ALD — North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming — and Hawaii and New Mexico do not participate at all. If a firm is licensed in one of those states, it will not appear here. Always confirm directly with the relevant state board.

Question 3

What do the license statuses mean?

Accepted Answer

Active means the firm's license is current and in good standing. Expired, Lapsed, or Canceled means the license is no longer current — the firm may have closed, merged, or simply not renewed. Status names vary slightly by state board.

Question 4

What does the disciplinary action flag indicate?

Accepted Answer

It indicates the state board has recorded at least one disciplinary action against the firm. It does not include details of the action — contact the issuing state board for the full disciplinary record.

Question 5

How often is this data updated?

Accepted Answer

The registry is refreshed periodically from NASBA's ALD. Because licensing records change over time, treat this lookup as a starting point and verify current status with the state board before engaging a firm.

Question 6

Can a firm be licensed in more than one state?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Firms frequently hold licenses in multiple jurisdictions, so the same firm can appear several times with different license numbers and statuses. Use the jurisdiction filter to narrow results to a specific state.

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